Collapsible container



March 27, 1928.

H. O. ELKINS COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 12, 1923 3 Sheets-511% 1,

% QNvENTO R M iAQaLLL ATTORNEY March 27; 1928. 1,663,649

H. O. ELKINS COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 5 SheetsSheet 2 V l 1 M Q Q: 1%

76 a? INVENTOR BY /0#1,6( A0 ,a/

' ATTORNEY I March 27, 1928.

' 1,663,649 H. O. ELKINS GOLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Criginal Filed Oct. 12, 1923 v 5 Sheets-Sheet Z5.

\NVi-NTOR {IX/M ha a I W ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

HENRY-'0. E'QE'IKIN'S; OF BATH; NEWYOBK? COLLAPSIBLE COII'IAINEER Application filed October 12, 1923, Serial No. 668,070." Rnewed February 1, 1928.

This inventionrelates to containers: and more particularly insome of its'details to improvements in collapsible containers, for receiving merchandise or the like and adapted to be expanded into operative or merchandise receiving. condition or to be 001- lapsed into a self-contained unit of relatively very small dimensions. i p

It'is a general object of the invention to is improve'and perfect the construction of containers of the class mentioned so as to provldea product which is light aswellas strong, capable of easy and instantaneous extension to form a satisfactory container forthe shipping or storingof articles of merchandise or the like, while being: capable of 'elfectuallysustaining stresses due to superposed loads or lateral thrusts, and being furthermore capable of being collapsed into" a compact, self-contained unit of relati l small volume. I

A'more particularobject of the invention is the provision ofa container of the class' description ofillustrative embodiments of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction" hereinafter set forth and the scope 'of the application of which will be indicated in the claims;

For a complete understandingof the nature and objects of the invention reference 40 The invention accordinglycomprises the should be had to the following detailed de scription taken in connection with the'accompanylng drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container embodying the invention,

the parts being in expanded or extended position and the cover-section swungto open position; r s

Fig. ,2 is an and elevation of the container in extended position, parts being-brokenaway for clearness of disclosure;

F ig.- 3-is a longitudinal sectiontakemap proximately on the line 13-3 of, Fig.2; Figtt is anend-elevationof the container in collapsed condition, parts being-broken away for clearness of disclosure;

F 1g 5 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding 'to Fig. 1, but illustrating-am of enclosing-walls or sections,including-the ottom section 1 A, side and end sections,- B, r

(3,1), and E, the cover section-F allarticu lated and connectedtogether bysjoints en abling the device to'be expandedto con tamer-forming or operative conditiongor'to be collapsed to form a self-contained 'unit. In the expanded condition it will be under-' 8 I stood that the container'may .be employed for receiving and-shipping or storing'qner chandise or the like, andinthe collapsed condition the container may' be returned without merchandise,- or it 'may beconveniently'stored when in such conditions I As shown in Figs. 1 to13 the several en-i closing sections are preferably of metallic! constructionwhich is Well adapted to form alight iand rigid structure The sections are preferably of SlIBlGtOnCOhStIHCtlOH including;- structural members of preferred commerclal cross-section which-are advantageous forp'er mitting-the {container to' collapse into a rel atively very; smallvolume,-while'"also'lend ing strength and rigidity-tothecontainer I when in extended condition.-

.As shown,- the bottom section "A includes" 5 structural end members lOand a front longi-T tudinal member'll, both ofangle section 11m lng -horizontal and vertical fianges lyingere spectively 'in-the planes "of the bottom andfront side sections of th'e'containera The rear longitudinal member 12, is preferably1a* flator rectangular plate,cooperaltingg'asseen'1 in Fig. 1, with asimilar member-30f therear T site frame; section" to form a) longitudinal."

cured to the exterior surface of the bottom section, providing shoes for the container for supporting the same and by means of which it may be easily slid about.

The rear side section B has upper and lower longitudinal structural members and 16, preferably flat or rectangular in section, the lower member lying adjacent to longitudinal member 12 of the bottom section and disposed at an angle thereto to form in effect a marginal structural member of angle section. Hinges 17 are secured to the frame members 12 and 16 whereby the rear side or body section and the bottom section may swing relatively to each other. The terminal members 18 are preferably angular in section providing upright corner posts for the 'container when extended, and transverse frame members as indicated at 19 may also extend between the longitudinal frame members 15 and 16 intermediate the ends thereof.

The front side or body section I) has upper and lower frame members, the lower member 20 being preferably flat and the upper member 21 being angular in section and forming the upper margin of the container body. The terminal angles 22 extend between the longitudinal members 20 ans 21 providing additional corner posts for the container opposed to the posts 18. It will also be understood that transverse frame members corre sponding to the frame members 19 of the rear section may be employed in the front section to provide additional strength The front side section is hinged to the bottom section by means of hinges 22 so as to swing inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1., these hinges being secured preferably to the upstanding flange of the longitudinal menr ber 11 and the structural member 20 of the front section. When the container is in extended position it will therefore be seen that the member 20 will be superposed edge to edge with reference to the upstanding flange of the angle member 11 whereby load stresses may be transmitted between these members through the contacting edges thereof.

The opposed end or body sect-ions C and E are of similar construction, being preferably of flat metal and of skeleton formation, including longitudinal members 23 and transverse connected members 24. Each end frame member is connected at one edge to one of the marginal angles 10 of the bottom section within the angle thereof by means of hinges 25. It will thus be seen that the end frames are disposed in position to be housed and protected by the marginal angles of the rover is bottom and side sections when. extended as shown in Fig. 1, or by the marginal angles of the bottom section when collapsed, as will be obvious upon reference to Fig. 6L. Furthermore, the end frame sections are enclosed and protected by the end angle members of the cover section of the container, as will be more fully pointed out.

The cover section F is also preferably of metallic construction having transverse end angle members 26, a longitudinal front or marginal angle member 27, and a flat longitudinal rear marginal member 28. Trans verse intermediate frame members 29 may also be employed. An angle bar 30, is disposed intermediate the cover section and the rear bodv section B, being hinged to the cover section through hinges 31 attached to one flange of the angle bar and to the rear body section B by hinges 32 secured to the other flange of the angle bar. Clips or retaining members 33 are secured to the cover in position to engage with the upper margins of the end frame sections when the closed, thereby retaining. said sections in extended positions. The front and back body or side sections B and D, in addition to the hinged connections above described, are connected together at their opposite ends by means of links 34- pivoted thereto, whereby the sections are constrained for movement together. The enclosing sections are preferably all of integral metallic construction, being pressed or stamped from metallic plates, or otherwise formed. A spring catch 35 may be secured to one or more of the links 34, having detents 36 for engaging in appropriate openings as 37 formed in the cover section for holding the container in collapsed position as shown in Fig. l.

lVhen the container is collapsed, as in dicated in Fig. 4, the side section B is swung on its hinges 17 so as to lie approximately in the same plane as the bottom section. lit the same time the front side section D assumes a position parallel to the bottom section but lies face to face in abutting position therewith due to the fact that the hinges 22 are connected to the upstanding flange 2 of the marginal angle member 11, at points removed from the plane of the bottom of the container. In this position the end or retaining sections C and E are folded down on their hinges so as to lie close down to the container bottom. being enclosed in the marginal flanges of the bottom section sub stantially in the plane thereof. 'The cover section then assumes a position substantially in the plane of the side section D. The cover section is enabled to assume this position by virtue of the double hinge connection formed by the angle bar 30 and hinges 31 and 32 permitting the cover section to swing about different centers spaced apart,

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1,e.ea,

one 32)" to completely uncover the con-1 tainer," :aIICl* OIl8'f(31)) td'ifOlQl to collapsed 1 position i as 'shown' in Figs 4; It will there forebef seen that the enclosing, sections of:

fithei's'container" when collapsed occupytwo parallel planesand lie face to face in a com-; pact'rela'tively very small self-contained unit effectually supported in this condition by means of the 'zspring latch'85. 7

To 'expand the container into operative condition for the-reception of merchandise for storage or "transportation, the latch 35 is released, the cover section'swung outwardly as indicated in'dot'and dash lines, Figut,

-t- -and the front and rear connected sections B and'D-swung to upright-position, The end body'sections G and-Erare'then'swung into an: upright "position (see Fig. 1) within the enclosing angles of the side and bottom secs #tions so as to behoused and'protected thereby. The endsframes cooperate with the side andfrbottonrisections to brace and retain the container in expandedwcondition so as to form a comparatively rigid seltsustaining structures The endw-frames will be effectu all'y hel'cb in extended position byoineans. of the vclips-33 attachedto the under sideof the-covernsection when-the coversection is swung to closed position, the floating angle bar 30* swings'over the upper margin of the sideHframeaBi The: top margins of the container are thus entirely protected by angle I barsgnot onlypresenting a finished appearance nto-the expanded containery -but also' rigidifying z-the 'construction and forming a substantial"seat throughtwhich stresses from superposed loads may be efi ectually' :transmitted to the-%container framer In this con-' nection it will be observed that the vertically disposed flange of the floating angle bar 8O may abut with" the. upper edge 3 of the frame C member 15 when-zthe cover is in closed position: relieving the hinges .of undue stress. This arrangement provides an advantageous structure inasmuch as the container finds ans important use where "large numbers of containers are superposed as in tiers, especially inithe. parcel post service invtransportatio'n and handling ofathe mails; The corner posts and zotlier framing members, asset distinguishing features of construction ad-'v vantageious for special purposes. As shown, this embodiment, as in that. previously described," is made" up of enclosing sections, being in' this case preferably of wood, and i designater'l-"in the drawing respectively-- by corresponding{reference letters with therdistinguishing primes applied-'1. Other corre-:

spondingrpartsaredesignatedby corresponding referencenumerals with the-indexfa The! bottom *isection A includes longitudi-- nal and transverse frame members LO-and 41" appropriately secured? togethen- At I the front'edgeof the bottom section 'issecured an upstandingalongitudiiial frame member the front side section;D,'0f-"the container. Theside and end frame'sections and thetop; or cover section are'of similar construction" 12 forming support to which is hinged:

including longitudinal and "trans-verse mar glnal frame; members 43 zand'l respectively; Each enclosing sect1on,1 nclu"d1ng the bottom;-

section, .is preferably: covered :on-the inner surface with a surfacing -mater 1al or sheaths ing, such, for example,-:as-= the: sheathing},

boards 45? as: ShOVVIlIlIL the drawing,.presentto that in the anodificationi scribed.

ing; aismooth interior surtaee*fomthe con-i tainer; Aswill be seen, the articulation of previously de=- The articulation of Ethe cover; sectioirfto the container body is modified to'provide a;'*

simple and effective hinge 'G adapted to'this type of constructionand QIIEIJlJllIIgZlJllG cover" tOi assume correct position-both when-- the: container-is collapsed :orex'tendedf Each hinge includes abutt'46 'ctor attachment'td the side section B-- and a butt 47 foratt'aeh Both butts are 1 nament to the cover section. preferably securedfto' the onter--surtfaces of thesections andxare provided withiangularly disposed sections 48, lying adjacent-the respective edges of the cover and side sections and pivoted to a connecting alink49." Butt 47 is provided with-a stop orliinitingslug 50' adapted to 1 contact with ra connectinglink i 49 to limit the opening movement of the coverfi. This lug also contacts with-the link 49 to 'stop downward -im ovement= of the" ill) this section is slidtorwardly from supporting hinged edge ofthe cover section F" in case position on the :upper edge of theside section B". as indicated in Fig. It will thus be seen that the hinge Gr permits the-counter section to swing freel'y'to openor closed 'position'when the container is extended and 1 to assume a position in parallelism with the" other enclosing section's wherrthe container is collapsed.- Y

Handles 51 of rope-"or similar flexible material may be secured "by"appropriate' clamping means to the end sectiOnsC and l E, having outwardly extending "loops'for convenient access.

to or fromcollapsible'position or "for mov These handles may be employed both for-swingi-ng the end sections ing the container about" when i11 eXtended position; WVhen the-container is extended" the handles 51 are disposed "in position to engage With tli'e' transverse connecting links 34 so as to distribute stress incident to lifting the container. I

The method of collapsing or expanding the sections is similar to that described above in connection with the first modification and will be'clearly understood. In this case, as

tions C and E for retaining them in ex-- tended position when the cover is closed.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodi ments of the invention could be made with out-departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specifies features of the invention herein described. and all statements 7 of the scope of the invention which, as a matbody and adapted to swing into a position to overlie the upper edges or said body sections so as to transmit loads thereto and to entirely uncover the space within the container, said hinged connection also permitting the cover section when collapsed to assume a position substantially parallel with the body sections and face to face with certain of the said sections, and retaining memhere on said cover section adapted when the cover is closed to cooperate with said sustaining sections to retain them in sustaining position.

2. A collapsible container including, in combination, body sections including bottom, end and side sections articulated for extension to form enclosing walls or to be collapsed, bracing links connected to opposed body sections and opposed other body neeacee sections being adapted to brace the container to sustain it in extended position, and a cover section having hinged connection to said body and adapted to swing into a position to overlie the upper edges of said body sections so as to transmit loads thereto and V to entirely uncover the space within the contamer, sa1d hinged connection also permltting the cover section, when collapsed, to asginal angles being hinged at one flange to a side section and at another flange to said cover section to provide separate articulations for said. cover section in collapsed and extended positions, and flat metallic end sections hinged to the end angles of said bottom sections and adapted to retain said side sections in extended position.

4:. A collapsible conta ner including, in

combination, metallic body sections including bottom and side sections having structural corner members of angle section and a metallic cover section having marginal angles with flanges surrounding the margins of the container when extended, one of said marginal angles being hinged at one flange to a side section and at another flange to said cover section to provide separate articulations for said cover section in collapsed and extended positions, flat metallic end sections hinged to the end angles of said bottom sections and adapted to retain said side sections in extended position, and members secured on said cover section for engagement with said end sections to retain the latter in ex-v tended position.

5. A collapsible container including, in

combination, articulated side, bottom and cover sections having metallic structural members cooperating to form marginal angle members for the container when extended, one of said angle members being formed by a flat marginal member of the bottom section and a flat marginal member of a side section hinged to the first mentioned marginal member.

6. A collapsible container including a plurality of body sections arranged for movement between collapsed and extended positions, and a cover section hingedly attached to one of said body portions, and formed with a pair of inwardly extending flanges positioned to receive therebetween upon the closure of said cover section a body section adjacent the last-mentioned body section when in extended position, and arranged to retain the same in the latter position.

7. A collapsible container including a plurality of body sections, a cover section and means to connect said cover section to one of said body sections, said means being arranged to permit when said container is extended, the movement of said cover section between a covering position and open posito a position parallel to said body portion as 5 the container is collapsed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY o. ELKINS. 

